I was just curious if anyone else is dealing with this issue...
I work in a small-medium facility that is having staffing issues. My unit is a closed unit(no one floats in or out) that is having problems with productivity and as such isn't allowed to fill positions that have been vacated. To fill core staffing, we have been picking up extra shifts and have been told that when we pick up these shifts, it will be paid at time and a half as an incentive.
I picked up some extra shifts, but when I looked at my last paycheck, I didn't receive my incentive pay, just the overtime. When I brought it to my manager's attention, my director got involved and stated that we only got incentive pay, or overtime, not both. Called it "double dipping". I told her that wasn't right and if that was the case, there is no incentive to pick up the extra shifts. She said it was the overtime that was the incentive. I pointed out that in the past we had been getting paid the incentive pay, then the overtime when we were above 40 hours for the week. She discouraged me from talking to HR about it, because if I did, then finance "would look into everyone's paychecks and take back the money they shouldn't have paid." So as a full time employee, I don't get the incentive for the full shift. Roughly 4 hours of "incentive" pay, the last 7.5 hours as overtime (we won't even get into the clocking out as having had a lunch break when we didn't issue). Basically, only people that work less than 72 hrs a pay period will get the incentive pay.
And as a bonus, apparently "on call" pay has been restricted as well. If a person gets flexed off for low census and expected to remain on call for the duration of the scheduled shift, they are doing so on their own dime. No more $2/hr to remain on call. Our area is not one of the approved on call areas like cath lab or OR. Not that 2 dollars is going to make or break me, but that's not the point. I don't like feeling like management doesn't value me as an employee or my time. I'm not entirely sure this is legal on either issue. Just curious what other people's take is on these issues.
My unit has been pretty good about filling out own open slots.
You understand that this is why management is able to treat you this way, no? They guilt you into taking open shifts so that they never have to fill them with new employees. You are digging your own hole.
The Feds will be looking at their bookkeeping soon.Learn that if it is not written don't believe it,they have used that "double dipping" expressions for decades,anytime they want to get out of paying for something.It is best to refuse the other shifts and look elsewhere.Keep every paystub.
Specializes in Psych, Corrections, Med-Surg, Ambulatory.
Love how they can shut everyone up by making upper management the bad guy (although it probably does start with them). Next time you get that "mothership" crap, ask who is advocating for the rank and file with the mothership.
Specializes in Surgical, Home Infusions, HVU, PCU, Neuro.
I would look into your state labor laws. Some states require on call pay because you are making yourself available to the facility if they should need to call you in, which takes away from your off time. They are not required to pay incentive pay so if offered I would get it in writing in case they tried to pull the OT is incentive.
Sounds like my employer. When new ownership came in it didn't take long for just about all incentives to pick up shifts disappeared. No overtime pay until that 40 hour a week mark and nobody is actually scheduled 40 hours a week so that first picked up shift at least half of it is straight time.
Adding to that insult if a shift proves particularly difficult to fill they might start offering a bonus to pick it up, but not until enough nurses have said no that they feel desperate. So of course that means some nurses are offered a bonus for picking up while other's aren't. I got so disgusted with that particular tactic that I stopped picking up shifts altogether. I got damn tired of covering a shift at straight time when another nurse was offered $100 for the next hole on the schedule that wasn't filled. Either offer the bonus to everybody or nobody.
Sounds like my employer. When new ownership came in it didn't take long for just about all incentives to pick up shifts disappeared. No overtime pay until that 40 hour a week mark and nobody is actually scheduled 40 hours a week so that first picked up shift at least half of it is straight time.
Adding to that insult if a shift proves particularly difficult to fill they might start offering a bonus to pick it up, but not until enough nurses have said no that they feel desperate. So of course that means some nurses are offered a bonus for picking up while other's aren't. I got so disgusted with that particular tactic that I stopped picking up shifts altogether. I got damn tired of covering a shift at straight time when another nurse was offered $100 for the next hole on the schedule that wasn't filled. Either offer the bonus to everybody or nobody.
LibraSunCNM, BSN, MSN, CNM
1,656 Posts
You understand that this is why management is able to treat you this way, no? They guilt you into taking open shifts so that they never have to fill them with new employees. You are digging your own hole.